Ghana coach, Fred Osam Duodu has been handed the job of leading Africa’s All-Star U-17 team to play an European select side next month in a UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup.

The game which comes up in Barcelona mini Nou Camp stadium is to celebrate the forthcoming tenth anniversary of the Meridian Project.

Osam Duodu would be assisted by Egypt’s Shakwi Gharib Bayoumi.

Leading national youth sides from each continent have participated in previous editions of the Meridian Cup, which was first staged in Lisbon in 1997.

But a new format has been agreed by both UEFA and CAF to replace the previous eight-nation competition.

This time the Meridian Cup is to continue under a new format, comprising a two-legged match between two continental All-Star Under-17 teams.

Osam Duodu together with Shakwi Gharib Bayoumi would be putting together a 20-man squad to represent Africa with two players from each national association making the team.
Africa’s squad would be named on January 24.

Fred Osam Duodu who coaches Ghana’s under-17 side would be making a second successive appearance at the African U-17 Championship when he leads the Black Starlets to the competition in Togo this year.

Two years ago, he won the last edition of the youth competition with the Gambia, who were host.

He has earned himself immense recognition on the continent and across.

The veteran coach who is a UEFA/CAF Meridian Instructor has played a greater role in developing young talent and training of coaches for the future.

The Meridian Project co-operation agreement between UEFA and CAF is to promote the exchange of cultures between European and African football and to offer young footballers a unique learning experience within the framework of a football festival.

After a decade of developing close ties, the project, which includes the UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup competition, has been given a new concept which will focus on education - Training the Trainers.

The plan concentrates on education in coaching, refereeing, sports medicine and administration, and will benefit all of Africa's 52 national associations.